Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles III will not personally receive a petition from the Jamaican government. The petition seeks a legal opinion on whether Britain should pay reparations for slavery. Contrary to initial reports, the king will not be involved in this process.

A Jamaican delegation plans to meet with British officials on Monday. They aim to have the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council review their reparations request. Previous reports suggested the king would handle the petition, but a palace spokesperson clarified this is not accurate. The king is currently in Scotland.

‘We understand the Jamaican government is seeking a petition to be heard before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council,’ the spokesman said. ‘The process for seeking a petition is to lodge it with the Judicial Committee so that referral under section four of the 1833 Act can be considered. We also understand the Jamaican representatives will be received by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for bilateral discussions.’

The spokesperson also noted King Charles III’s dedication to addressing historical grievances related to slavery. ‘His Majesty has on many occasions expressed his personal and wholehearted commitment to promoting greater understanding around the issue of slavery and finding ways to address historic wrongs for the benefit of communities today.’

In a notable statement to Commonwealth leaders, he emphasized the importance of learning from history. ‘I understand, from listening to people across the Commonwealth, how the most painful aspects of our past continue to resonate…none of us can change the past. But we can commit, with all our hearts to learning its lessons and to finding creative ways to right inequalities that endure.’

This story is ongoing and updates will follow as more information becomes available.